He struggled to make his art pay during his twenties, but is now recognised as one of the premier painters of North West scenes, with pieces depicting parts of Burnley, Blackburn, and Pendle, and
even an evocative painting of a Rawtenstall chip shop in the evening rain.

Liam said: “It’s an honour for my work to be displayed along-side the artists in this show.

“To be honest, it took a long time to appreciate the work of Lowry himself.

“I wouldn’t say he was an influence, but I appreciate his impact and worldwide status.

“I was influenced by a lot of French art, particularly Adol-phe Valette, who came to live in pre-war Manchester, so it’s good to see his work in the show.

“He was all about the smog and grime of the region, and I like to think my work is brighter and colourful.”

The exhibition will offer a chronological insight into the evolving north of England art scene.

The artistic journey begins with works by Valette, moving on to LS Lowry and his contemporaries, through to today’s emerging talents, such as Liam, Stacey Manton, and Ben Kelly.

Bill Clark, northern art expert and the owner of Clark Art gallery, said: “The show isn’t just about the big names we know and love, but also the ones to watch, the collectors’ favourites for the
future.”